The skim milk price is heading into space faster than Captain Kirk, up nearly 2% this week, or €50 per tonne, and it's now impossible to find under €2800, and then only a truck at a time. It's getting to the stage of if you ask how much, you can't afford it. It is as fundamental as lower liquid milk supply than non-liquid milk processors require, on the back of zero stocks. Where it'll peak is anyone's guess, but the last high of €3K during Peak Oil in 2008 was underpinned by intervention stocks, which are no longer there.

Whey is a tad more under control, and although it isn't critically short, the amount that has been diverted into more lucrative whey protein concentrate (€2400) has increased the discount for the byproduct whey permeate, leaving whey broadly in supply/demand balance. Having said that, with WPC prices increasing, it may be dragged up in the skim vortex.

The pound has responded remarkably well to the socialist manifesto that the Tory leader presented to their conference, bashing bosses into paying higher wages. Magic money tree time again.......

BDC agri is the UK broker for Lacto Production milk and whey powder products.

For further information and prices, contact Greg Dunn on 01206 381521 or g.dunn@blackdiamondcommodities.com